Radio Telephony

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As a pilot, you must be able to operate your radio equipment, since you will need to use it to both gather information and inform others of your
intentions. An important role of radio communication is in allowing you to work in co-operation with air traffic control and other pilots,
so as to ensure that all aircraft are kept apart. This section looks at the many bodies with whom you can communicate,
and the communication procedures and phrases involved. There is a separate section about radio equipement elsewhere on the website.

Simply knowing the rules of communications is not enough. You will also need to have a great deal of practice before feeling confident
when using your radio. Fortunately, experience can be gained through courses over the Internet and / or via flight simulation software,
which also incorporates Air Traffic Control (ATC).

Who can I communicate with?

You aren’t limited to only talking to ground control or the tower; indeed, there are many bodies with which you can communicate,
each with its own designation and purpose. The ones you will need depend on the kind of journey you are making and the types of
airports you will encounter. An overview of the most common organisations is set out in the table below.
The column, 'Address as', gives the title that is used to contact the facility over the radio.

Facility

Purpose

Address as

MULTICOM

Air to air communication at airports without air-ground communication facilities
(Class G airspace). The communications are made over the FAA's Common
Traffic Advisory Frequency (CTAF) which is at multicom fields 122.9Mhz.

Traffic

Airport UNICOM

To provide airport information. Note that this is not a government communication
facility (Class E airspace). The communications are made over the FAA's Common Traffic
Advisory Frequency (CTAF).

Unicom

(FAA) Flight Service Station (FSS)

Provides information and services to pilots.

Radio

Airport Traffic Control (Tower)

Coordinates operations on the runways and in Class B, C and D airspace.

Tower

Clearance Delivery Position

Responsible for transmitting departure clearances to IFR flights.

Clearance Delivery

Ground Control Position in Tower

Responsible for controlling aircraft taxiing to and from the runways.

Ground

Rader or Nonrader Approach Control Position

Provides approach IFR control services

Approach

Rader Departure Control Position

Provides departure IFR control services

Departure

FAA Air Route Traffic Control Center (ARTCC)
Air Control Centers (ICAO terminology)

To maintain separation between IFR flights and known VFR
flights.

Center

You can find out more about Airspace Classes here.
The division of airspace into classes (ranging from A to G) is an international standard
(ICAO).

Communication phrases utilised

Communicating over the radio is subject to certain rules. To contact a facility, you must begin with its call sign, followed by your own,
and then your intentions. When contact is established, you must continue to refer to your own call sign frequently (call signs are
often abbreviated). As a rule, your message should always be brief and clear. Slang and jargon must be avoided.
A few examples:

What words to use and how to pronounce them?

In aviation communication, there are clear rules relating to the Radio Telephony Spelling Alphabet,
and the ways in which time, speeds, directions and so on have to be spelt and pronounced. This is important because the aviation world is
international, and rules are required to ensure that everyone can understand each other. From March 2008, every international pilot must
be able to speak English!

5500 : five thousand five hundred
13,500 feet: one three thousand five hundred feet
25,000 feet: Flight Level two five zero

Speeds

Spoken in separate digits. Unit is knots, which is often omitted.

85 knots: eight five knots

Directions

Directions are always magnetic readings unless otherwise stated in the transmission.
The direction is spoken in separate digits.

Bearing 090: bearing zero niner zero

Radio frequencies

Digits read one by one. The digital point is stated as 'point'.
Radio frequencies are often abbreviated.

133.3: one three three point three
Example of abbreviated radio frequency: ground point niner (instead of ground one
two one point niner)

Communicating an Emergency

Use radio frequency 121.5 and transmit 'Mayday, Mayday, Mayday, ...'

Mayday, Mayday, Mayday, piper 12345 calling any station.

Say Again, Please

This books covers all aspects of radio communication. It explains how to address the communication facilities and describes the services they
provide and how they operate. The style is more narrative than formal, and the book provides many 'talk' examples. After reading this work,
you will no longer be afraid to use the push-to-talk button, and will be able to firmly state your intentions.